Generation of animated gesture responses in a virtual world

ABSTRACT

Responding to gestures made by third parties in a virtual world by receiving a gesture from a first avatar directed to at least one second avatar. For at least one second avatar, a reply gesture may be selected that corresponds to the received gesture. The reply gesture may be output for communication to the first avatar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to simulations, virtual world simulations of thereal-world or real-life or a virtual world and the like, and moreparticularly to a system and method for responding to gestures made bythird parties in a virtual world.

Computer based simulations are becoming more ubiquitous. Simulations maybe used for training purposes, for entertainment or for other purposes.Computer simulations such as Second Life™ or similar simulations presenta virtual world which allows users or players to be represented bycharacters known as avatars. Second Life is a trademark of LindenResearch, Inc. in the United States, other countries or both. SecondLife is an Internet-based virtual world launched in 2003 by LindenResearch, Inc. A downloadable client program called the Second LifeViewer enables users, called “Residents”, to interact with others in thevirtual world through motional avatars. The virtual world basicallysimulates the real world or environment. The users or residents, viatheir avatar, can explore the virtual world, meet other users orresidents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities,create and trade items (virtual property) and receive services from oneanother.

Virtual worlds are created so as to mimic reality. The users are able toparticipate in conversations and make gestures to other users that areone or more of visible, audible, or in text form. Despite allowinginteraction between users, virtual worlds typically rely on user inputto control interaction between users and do not provide for automaticreactions of the user to the virtual environment. In reality, however,human beings typically react automatically to certain gestures made byothers during conversation, such as smiling or nodding when said helloto, extending a hand when the other person appears to make a gesture toshake hands, etc. The reactions are generally spontaneous andautonomous. Additionally, there are different guidelines dictating aperson's response based on the context or environment in which aninteraction with another user is occurring. For example, a person'sresponse to a gesture in a business context may be different from aperson's response in a social or friendly setting. As another example, aperson's response to a gesture may be different based on culturaldifferences between users.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method for respondingto gestures made by third parties in a virtual world may comprisereceiving a gesture from a first avatar directed to at least one secondavatar, thereby forming a received gesture. The method may also include,for at least one second avatar, selecting a reply gesture correspondingto the received gesture. The method may also include outputting thereply gesture for communication to the first avatar.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method forresponding to gestures made by third parties in a virtual world maycomprise receiving a gesture from a first avatar directed to at leastone second avatar, thereby forming a received gesture. The method mayalso include, selecting and outputting a reply gesture corresponding tothe received gesture if the first avatar is within a proximity thresholdof the second avatar.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the proximity thresholdmay be a distance value, while in another aspect, the proximitythreshold represents an environment of either one or both the first andsecond avatars, or spatial dimension, such as a virtual room, sphere,etc. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, various replygestures may be categorized for providing different reply gestures basedon the context within which the received gesture was sent by the otherparty.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a computer programproduct for responding to gestures made by third parties may comprise acomputer readable medium having computer readable program code embodiedtherein. The computer readable medium may computer readable program codeconfigured to receive a gesture to be made by a first avatar directed toat least one second avatar, thereby forming a received gesture. Thecomputer readable medium may further comprise computer readable programcode configured to, for at least one second avatar, select a replygesture corresponding to the received gesture and computer readableprogram code configured to output the reply gesture for communication tothe first avatar.

Other aspects and features of the invention, as defined solely by theclaims, will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art uponreview of the following non-limited detailed description of theinvention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an example of a system forgenerating animated gesture responses in a virtual world in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an example of a method for generating animatedgesture responses in a virtual world by identifying the input gesture,then responding with the stored corresponding reply gesture inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example of a method for generating animatedgesture responses in a virtual world by identifying the input gestureand the avatar making the gesture, then responding with the storedcorresponding reply gesture in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example of a method for generating animatedgesture responses in a virtual world by identifying the input gestureand the environment in which the gesture was made, then responding withthe stored corresponding reply gesture in accordance with an embodimentof the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example of a method for generating animatedgesture responses in a virtual world by identifying the input gestureand the proximity threshold of the avatar making the gesture, thenresponding with the stored corresponding reply gesture in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments having different structures and operationsdo not depart from the scope of the invention.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the invention may beembodied as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly,the invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module” or “system.” Furthermore, the invention may take the form of acomputer program product on a computer-usable storage medium havingcomputer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a tangible medium such as aportable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-onlymemory (CD-ROM), or other tangible optical or magnetic storage device;or transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or anintranet. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable mediumcould even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program isprinted, as the program can be electronically captured, via, forinstance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that cancontain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for useby or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signalwith the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program codemay be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but notlimited to the Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency(RF) or other means.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the invention maybe written in an object oriented programming language such as Java,Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program code forcarrying out operations of the invention may also be written inconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages, or in functionalprogramming languages, such as Haskell, Standard Meta Language (SML) orsimilar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely onthe user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the invention are described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Aspects of the invention provide systems, methods, and computer programproducts for generating a reply gesture from a second user in responseto a gesture received from a first user in a virtual world. Depending onthe embodiment, the reply gesture may be made at the behest of thesecond user or may be an automatic reply from the second user withoutinput from the second user. In effect, the systems, methods, andcomputer program products of the invention generate reply gestures inresponse to received gestures from others so as to more closely mimichuman interaction, where certain queues and gestures made by one personare automatically or autonomously responded to by another person duringconversation or interaction in a virtual world setting.

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram depicting a general embodiment of anenvironment 10 in which the systems, methods, and computer programproducts of the invention may be implemented according to oneembodiment. As illustrated, a plurality of users 12-16 may be connectedto a network 20, such as the Internet, LAN, WAN, etc. The users 12-16interact with a virtual world system 18. In particular, the virtualworld system 18 operates one or more virtual worlds in which users maycreate one or more virtual personalities, sometimes referred to asavatars. The users, via their computers 21, are capable of controllingtheir avatars to communicate with each other in various virtualscenarios. In general, users provide commands to the virtual worldsystem 18 dictating various environments and situations to place theiravatar(s) in and to control the actions and movements of the avatar(s).The virtual world system 18 receives these inputs and generates variousgraphic user interfaces to be displayed on each user's computer. Whereusers interact with each other in the virtual world, the virtual worldsystem 18 displays scenes from the users' interactions on all users'computers.

As illustrated, the virtual world system 18 is typically implemented asa server accessible via a network 20. This however, could includepeer-to-peer type network configurations without a central host. (FIG. 1depicts only one possible embodiment for configuration of the virtualworld system). The virtual world system 18 may include aserver/processor 22 that operates using various software modules 29stored in a file system 24 to create and operate the virtual world. Thevirtual world system 18 also includes data stored in the file system 24typically in a database 26.

To implement the invention, in one embodiment, the database 26 of thevirtual world system 18 comprises data records 28 for each user and eachavatar for each user, if the user has more than one avatar. Stored foreach avatar is a list of reply gestures associated with potential inputgestures or queues that may be received from a third party in thevirtual world. The reply gestures are a series of commands input to theprocessor for controlling the animation and speech of the avatar tocreate a visual response by the avatar to the received gesture. In otherembodiments, the reply gestures include pointers or other indicatorsthat indicate the commands to use to create and display the replygesture.

For example, if a first avatar were to direct a nod and hello to asecond avatar, the database would include an appropriate reply gesturestored for the second avatar and corresponding to this gesture. Thecommands for the reply gesture would be provided to theserver/processor, which would, in turn, create displays on the computers21 of the users 12 and 14 associated with the first and second avatarsillustrating the second avatar's reply gesture. In some embodiments, thereply gesture is displayed automatically without input by the seconduser so as to emulate autonomic reactions of users in real life.

The reply gestures may be organized in different ways. In its simplestform, for each possible gesture that may be received from a third party,there is provided a corresponding reply gesture as a response. However,the number and types of reply responses for any given received gesturecan be many. A user may wish to create a series of possible replygestures for each received gesture, where the reply to be used dependson one or more of: the avatars with whom the interaction is occurring,the environment or social setting in which the interaction is occurring,time of day, year, etc., cultural differences between the avatars orusers, etc.

For example, a user may create different reply gestures for use withfriends or a particular individual that may be different than those witha more general acquaintance. Similarly, a user may use different replygestures for individuals hierarchically above them, such as a boss.Similarly, a user may use different reply gestures based on the socialenvironment, choosing more formal gestures in a business setting than ina social setting. The user may also use different gestures based on thecultural and/or ethnic orientation of the user's avatar and/or theparticular avatar with which the user is communicating.

In some embodiments, the user may also use a proximity threshold. Theproximity threshold can be used as a filter. Gestures made by users at adistance from the user's avatars may not warrant a reply gesture. Theproximity threshold may be a general threshold to use with all receivedgestures from third parties, or it may be selectable based on who issending the gesture, the type of gesture, the current environment orsocial setting, cultural norms, etc. For example, the user may set anindividual proximity threshold for each possible received gesture, aproximity threshold to use with a class or category of gestures, aproximity threshold to use with particular third party users or avatars,individualized proximity thresholds to use in different environments orsocial settings, or to account for cultural differences between users,etc.

It must be understood, that the proximity threshold is not necessarily adefined distance, such as five (5) feet, between the avatars. Theproximity threshold could be a two or three-dimensional spatial setting,such as within a given sphere or within a room or within a givenenvironment, etc.

A user may store reply gestures in one or more databases 26 and datarecords 28 for one or more of that user's avatars in order to respond toany number of avatars in the virtual world. The databases may containdefault settings that can be changed by the user. An example of adatabase storing avatar reply gestures for a particular user is shownbelow in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Example of a possible database for reply gestures GESTURE TIMEOF GESTURE AVATAR PERSON ENVIRONMENT CULTURE PROXIMITY RECEIVED DAYRESPONSE AV1 Boss Social America Inside 10 ft. “Hello” Anytime “Hey, Howare you?” Inside the Smile & Anytime Waive & same “Hello” “Hello” roomOutside 50 ft. Waive Anytime Do Nothing Business America Between 5 ft.“Hello” Morning “Good and 20 ft. Morning Sir” Afternoon “Good AfternoonSir” Night “Good Night Sir” “Good Night “Have a Night” good Evening”Within 5 ft “Hello” Anytime “Hello” & handshake Japan Inside 20 ft.“Hello” Anytime “Konnichiwa” John Doe Any Setting America Within 10 ft.“Hey Man” Anytime “What's Up?” Five Anytime Five Any Smile SmileDistance AV2 Friend Any Setting Japan Any “Hi” Anytime “Konnichiwa”Distance AV3 Stranger - Any Setting Any On Street “Hi” Anytime “Hello”Male Country Smile Anytime Nod Stranger - Business Any Any Smile AnytimeSmile Female Country location

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the virtual world system 18 may includevarious modules for implementing the invention. In addition to theserver/processor 22 and file management system 24, the system may alsoinclude an interface module 30 for controlling communications with theusers and displaying graphic user interfaces on the users' computers.The system may include a search engine module 32 for accessing thedatabase and retrieving of reply gestures.

FIG. 2, represents a flow chart of one embodiment of the method ofgenerating an animated gesture response. A first user 12 initiates agesture on his/her computer for his/her first avatar to make a gestureto a second avatar. As illustrated in block 105, the interface modulethen receives the gesture from the first avatar that is directed to thesecond avatar. The search module then searches the database for a replygesture for the second avatar to make to the first avatar based on thereceived gesture from the first avatar, as shown in block 110.

In an optional manual mode, the interface module may prompt the seconduser that the second avatar is being commanded to respond to the firstavatar with the reply gesture that is stored in the database. (See block115). Under this manual mode, the second user can either accept ordecline to send the reply gesture that is stored in the database. If thesecond user declines to send the stored reply gesture, then the seconduser may select a different reply gesture, as seen in block 120. If theuser selects a different reply gesture, the search module will find theselected reply from the database and transmit for display to theinterface module, as seen in block 125. If however, the second useraccepts the initial reply gesture that is stored in the database, thenthe interface module displays the reply gesture for the second avatar onthe display screens of the first and second users, as seen in block 125.

Typically, as in one embodiment of the invention, the steps shown inblocks 115 and 120 will not occur. Instead, the reply gesture from thesecond avatar will be an automatic response to the gesture from thefirst avatar. In block 110, the interface module will send the replygesture that is retrieved from the database by the search moduledirectly to the display screens of the first and second usersautomatically, as seen in block 125.

FIG. 3, represents a flow chart of one embodiment of the method ofgenerating an animated gesture response that includes using the identityof the avatar(s) making the initial gesture to determine the replygesture to be used by the avatar receiving the gesture. In thisembodiment, either there are general reply gestures stored in thedatabase for use in responding to gestures from the first avatar, and/orthe user associated with the second avatar may have stored one or morespecific gestures to use when responding to the first avatar.

A first user initiates a gesture on his/her computer for his/her firstavatar to make a gesture to a second avatar. The interface modulereceives the gesture from the first avatar directed to the second avatarand inputs the parameters to the search module, as seen in block 205.The parameters input include the gesture received and the identity ofthe first avatar. As illustrated by block 210 the search module thensearches the database for records relating to the first avatarindicating the reply gesture to use when corresponding with the firstavatar. Typically, there will be customized reply gestures stored underthe second avatar to be used when the second avatar communicates withthe first avatar.

The search module will send the corresponding reply gesture from thedatabase to the interface module. As illustrated in block 215 theinterface module will then display the reply gesture for the secondavatar to the display screen of the first and second users. If thesearch module has not found a reply that is specific to the firstavatar, it will either use the standard replies associated with thesecond avatar or use standard replies from the general database of replygestures. As shown by blocks 220 and 225, the display of the replygesture may either be automatic or the system may allow the second userassociated with the second avatar to approve the reply gesture prior toimplementation.

FIG. 4, represents a flow chart of one embodiment of the method ofgenerating an animated gesture response that includes using theenvironment, (e.g., business or social), in which the first and/orsecond avatar is located to determine the reply gesture to be used bythe second avatar receiving the gesture. In this embodiment, eitherthere are general reply gestures stored in the database for use inresponding to gestures from the first avatar based on the particularenvironment, and/or the user associated with the second avatar may havestored one or more specific gestures to use when responding in thespecific environment.

A first user initiates a gesture on his/her computer for his/her firstavatar to make a gesture to a second avatar. The interface modulereceives the gesture from the first avatar directed to the second avatarand inputs the parameters to the search module, as seen in block 305.The parameters input include the gesture received and the environmentassociated with the first and/or second avatar. As illustrated by block310, the search module then searches the database for records indicatingthe reply gesture to use in response to the received gesture and theenvironment. Typically, there will be customized reply gestures storedfor the second avatar to be used when the second avatar communicateswith the first avatar.

The search module will send the corresponding reply gesture from thedatabase to the interface module. As illustrated in block 315 theinterface module will then display the reply gesture for the secondavatar to the display screen of the first and second users. If thesearch module has not found a reply that is specific to the firstavatar, it will either use the standard replies associated with thesecond avatar or use standard replies from the general database of replygestures. As shown by blocks 320 and 325, the display of the replygesture may either be automatic or the system may allow the second userassociated with the second avatar to approve the reply gesture prior toimplementation.

FIG. 5, represents a flow chart of one embodiment of the method ofgenerating an animated gesture response that includes using a proximitythreshold from the avatar making the initial gesture. A first userinitiates a gesture on his/her computer for his/her first avatar to makea gesture to a second avatar. As illustrated in block 405, the interfacemodule then receives the gesture from the first avatar that is directedto the second avatar. The search module searches the database for areply gesture for the second avatar that corresponds to the initialgesture made by the first avatar, as shown in block 410.

The search module will search the database to determine if the replygesture has an associated proximity threshold. The interface module willdetermine the first avatar's proximity and compare the proximity valueto a threshold proximity, as illustrated in block 415. As illustrated inblock 420, if the first avatar's proximity is outside of the proximitythreshold associated with the reply gesture, then the interface modulewill do nothing. If however, the first avatar's proximity is equal to orwithin the proximity threshold associated with the reply gesture, asseen in block 425, the interface module will display the reply gesturefor the second avatar on the display screens of the first and secondusers. As shown by blocks 430 and 435, the display of the reply gesturemay either be automatic or the system may allow the second userassociated with the second avatar to approve the reply gesture prior toimplementation.

It is understood that the proximity threshold or parameter can mean amultitude of distance parameters. It could be a general proximitythreshold that could be as simple as measuring a distance from theavatar compared to a stored distance that will merit a reply gesturewhen the proximity threshold is at or within the stored distance. Theproximity threshold could be a spatial distance such as a sphere or avirtual room, where in the case of a virtual room the actual distance ofthe proximity threshold would change based on the size of the room inwhich the avatar is located. In addition, the proximity threshold couldbe set by the user for each avatar at various distances or spatialparameters based on the identity of the first avatar, each possiblereceived gesture, the environment, the time of day, etc.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate independent embodiments that determine the replygesture based on one of the identity of the user, environment, andproximity. It is understood that the invention is capable of usingmultiple parameters to determine the reply, such as combinations of theidentity of the user, environment, and proximity. In other embodimentsother parameters besides identity, environment, and proximity may beused for supplying response gestures, such as the culture where theavatars are located, or the culture of the avatar making the gestureregardless of location, or the time of day the gesture is made, as wellas numerous other parameters.

The above embodiments, illustrate interactions between first and secondavatars. It must be understood, that the invention is capable ofgenerating reply gestures for more than one avatar at a time. Forexample, the first avatar may provide a gesture to a group of avatars.Under this scenario, the invention will determine proper reply gestures,which may be different for different avatars, and display the gesturesto each user.

A gesture may include any visual, textual or oral communication orgesture in a virtual world that an avatar may perform or which may beperformed for an avatar. Examples of a gesture may include, but are notlimited to, extending a hand, bowing, saying “hello”, waving, winking,writing out “hello”, etc.

All of these embodiments show a method to generate a response gesturebetween two users each with one avatar. However, it is understood thatthese methods can be preformed to receive a number of gestures from anumber of avatars for one or more users, and allow the users of theavatars who receive the gestures to respond to one or more avatarsautomatically based on identity, environment, proximity, or otherparameters by selecting predetermined reply gestures.

In addition, it is important to note that not only may a user enterspecific automated gesture responses, but the gesture responses may be aset of default replies provided by the virtual world in which the avataris operating. Additionally, specific areas within the virtual world mayhave its own set of default gesture responses different from other areaswithin the same virtual world. The user may use the default settings orwhere allowed by the virtual world or other areas within the virtualworld may change the default settings for the reply gestures.

It is understood that the methods shown in the embodiments are only afew examples of the order of steps that could be used to generateanimated response gestures. It is understood that the same results maybe obtained by changing the order of operation for searching and storingthe various parameters used to determine the reply gestures.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinationsof special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that anyarrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the inventionhas other applications in other environments. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. Thefollowing claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the specific embodiments described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for responding to gestures made by thirdparties in a virtual world, comprising: receiving a first gesture to bemade by a first avatar directed to at least one second avatar, therebyforming a first received gesture; receiving a second gesture to be madeby a third avatar directed to the at least one second avatar in aspecific area of the virtual world, thereby forming a second receivedgesture; accessing a database comprising a first reply gesture and asecond reply gesture, wherein the first reply gesture corresponds to atleast one unique set of criteria, wherein each set of criteria comprisesat least one user-defined criterion and a received gesture criterion inaddition to the user-defined criterion and the second reply gesturecorresponds to a set of default gestures that are based on the specificarea of the virtual world; for the at least one second avatar, selectingthe first reply gesture from the database corresponding to one of theunique sets of criteria based on at least a time period associated withthe first received gesture, wherein the second reply gesture isdifferent from the first reply gesture; and simultaneously outputtingthe first reply gesture for communication to the first avatar and thesecond reply gesture for communication to the third avatar.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding tothe received gesture occurs automatically upon receipt of the receivedgesture from the first avatar.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinselecting a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture occursif a proximity of the first avatar to the second avatar is within aproximity threshold.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the proximitythreshold comprises a distance value, and wherein selecting a replygesture corresponding to the received gesture occurs if the distancebetween the first and second avatars is within the proximity threshold.5. The method of claim 3, wherein the proximity threshold comprises adefined environment surrounding the second avatar, and wherein selectinga reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture occurs if theproximity of the first avatar to the second avatar is within theproximity threshold.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the replygestures are categorized into different classes, and wherein selecting areply gesture corresponding to the received gesture comprises selectinga reply gesture from the different classes.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the reply gestures are categorized into different avatar definedclasses, and wherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding to thereceived gesture comprises selecting a reply gesture from the differentavatar defined classes.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the replygestures are categorized based on different social environments, andwherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesturecomprises selecting a reply gesture categorized based on the differentsocial environments.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingreceiving information regarding a social environment of either one orboth the first and second avatars, and wherein selecting a reply gesturecorresponding to the received gesture further comprises selecting thereply gesture that corresponds to the social environment of at least oneof the first and second avatars.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thereply gestures are categorized based on different social environmentscomprising at least one of a business, cultural, and personalenvironment, and wherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding to thereceived gesture comprises selecting a reply gesture categorized basedon the different social environments.
 11. A method for responding togestures made by third parties in a virtual world, comprising: receivinga first gesture to be made by a first avatar directed to at least onesecond avatar, thereby forming a first received gesture; receiving asecond gesture to be made by a third avatar directed to the at least onesecond avatar in a specific area of the virtual world, thereby forming asecond received gesture; accessing a database comprising a first replygesture and a second reply gesture, wherein the first reply gesturecorresponds to at least one unique set of criteria, wherein each set ofcriteria comprises at least one user-defined criterion and a receivedgesture criterion in addition to the user-defined criterion and thesecond reply gesture correspond to a set of default gestures that isbased on the specific area of the virtual world; for the at least onesecond avatar, selecting the first reply gesture from the databasecorresponding to one of the unique sets of criteria if a proximity ofthe first avatar to the second avatar is within a proximity threshold,the proximity threshold being adjustable based on the size of anenvironment, wherein the second reply gesture is different from thefirst reply gesture; and simultaneously outputting the first replygesture for communication to the first avatar and the second replygesture for communication to the third avatar.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the proximity threshold comprises a distance value, andwherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding to the received gestureoccurs if the distance between the first and second avatars is withinthe proximity threshold.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein theproximity threshold comprises a defined environment surrounding thesecond avatar, and wherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding tothe received gesture occurs if the proximity of the first avatar to thesecond avatar is within the proximity threshold.
 14. The method of claim11, further comprising receiving information regarding a socialenvironment of either one or both the first and second avatars, andwherein selecting a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesturefurther comprises selecting a reply gesture that corresponds to thesocial environment of at least one of the first and second avatars. 15.The method of claim 11, wherein the reply gestures are categorized intodifferent classes, and wherein selecting a reply gesture correspondingto the received gesture comprises selecting a reply gesture from thedifferent classes.
 16. A computer program product for responding togestures made by third parties in a virtual world, the computer programproduct comprising: a computer readable storage medium device havingcomputer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readablestorage medium comprising: computer readable program code configured toreceive a first gesture to be made by a first avatar directed to atleast one second avatar, thereby forming a received gesture; computerreadable program code configured to receive a second gesture to be madeby a third avatar directed to the at least one second avatar in aspecific area of the virtual world, thereby forming a received gesture;computer readable program code configured to access a databasecomprising a first reply gesture and a second reply gesture, wherein thefirst reply gesture corresponds to at least one unique set of criteria,wherein each set of criteria comprises at least one user-definedcriterion and a received gesture criterion in addition to theuser-defined criterion and the second reply gesture corresponds to a setof default gestures that are based on the specific area of the virtualworld; computer readable program code configured to, for the at leastone second avatar, select the first reply gesture from the databasecorresponding to one of the unique sets of criteria based on at least atime period associated with the received gesture, wherein the secondreply gesture is different from the first reply gesture; and computerreadable program code configured to simultaneously output the firstreply gesture for communication to the first avatar and the second replygesture for communication to the third avatar.
 17. The computer programproduct of claim 16, wherein said computer readable program codeconfigured to, for at least one second avatar, select a reply gesturecorresponding to the received gesture is configured to automaticallyselect a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture uponreceipt of the received gesture from the first avatar.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 16, wherein said computer readable program codeconfigured to, for at least one second avatar, select a reply gesturecorresponding to the received gesture is configured to select a replygesture corresponding to the received gesture if a proximity of thefirst avatar to the second avatar is within a proximity threshold. 19.The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said computer readableprogram code configured to, for at least one second avatar, select areply gesture corresponding to the received gesture is configured toselect a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture if aproximity of the first avatar to the second avatar is within a proximitythreshold, wherein the proximity threshold comprises a distance value.20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said computerreadable program code configured to, for at least one second avatar,select a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture isconfigured to select a reply gesture corresponding to the receivedgesture if a proximity of the first avatar to the second avatar iswithin a proximity threshold, wherein the proximity threshold comprisesa defined environment surrounding the second avatar.
 21. The computerprogram product of claim 16 further comprising computer readable programcode configured to receive information regarding a social environment ofeither one or both the first and second avatars, and wherein saidcomputer readable program code configured to, for at least one secondavatar, select a reply gesture corresponding to the received gesture isconfigured to select a reply gesture that corresponds to the socialenvironment of at least one of the first and second avatars.
 22. Anapparatus for responding to gestures made by third parties in a virtualworld, comprising: a processor capable of: receiving a first gesture tobe made by a first avatar directed to at least one second avatar,thereby forming a received gesture; receiving a second gesture to bemade by a third avatar directed to the at least one second avatar in aspecific area of the virtual world, thereby forming a received gesture;accessing a database comprising a first reply gesture and a second replygesture, wherein the first reply gesture corresponds to at least oneunique set of criteria, wherein each set of criteria comprises at leastone user-defined criterion and a received gesture criterion in additionto the user-defined criterion and the second reply gesture correspondsto a set of default gestures that are based on the specific area of thevirtual world; for at least one second avatar, selecting the first replygesture from the database corresponding to one of the unique sets ofcriteria based on at least a time period associated with the receivedgesture, wherein the second reply gesture is different from the firstreply gesture; and simultaneously outputting the first reply gesture forcommunication to the first avatar and the second reply gesture forcommunication to the third avatar.